Now Ceballos Is Back, Lakers Seem To Lose Faith

Los Angeles Lakers forward Cedric Ceballos may have ended his disappearing act just in time to face the Orlando Magic tonight, but now his teammates' confidence is missing.

''He abandoned us, you know. At a time like this, at a time we have to stick together,'' said guard Nick Van Exel, a co-captain with Ceballos. ''It's going to be hard. We've got a team captain who just walks out.''

The Lakers visit Orlando Arena with Ceballos, who likely will play but not start. He will be rejoining his teammates for the first time since skipping out on them five days ago for what he called ''personal family reasons.''

Ceballos failed to show for a team charter flight to Seattle last Wednesday. He did not contact the Lakers and was suspended indefinitely.

During that time, he reportedly fled to an Arizona resort where he was seen water skiing. Ceballos denied he was skiing. The suspension cost him in excess of $54,756.

He returned to Los Angeles on Sunday to meet with Lakers Vice President Jerry West. Ceballos insists his absence was not basketball related.

''I told them the truth about my situation,'' Ceballos said, ''and whether they want to believe it or not is up to them. We don't have to get along off the court. The main thing is for us to have chemistry on the court.''

It has been speculated that Ceballos has grown disgruntled about his diminishing minutes and role with the arrival of Magic Johnson.

''That's not the case at all,'' Ceballos said.

Johnson, however, probably is the angriest of the Lakers. He is pondering retirement again.

''This is the worst time for all this to happen,'' said Johnson, 36. ''I'm really sick and tired of it. . . . It's hard for me to deal with all this. I'm too old.''

Ceballos was only one of three Lakers to show up for a voluntary practice Monday night.